Bicycle-saddle



3 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

(No Model.) Y

S. W.v BABBITT.

BICYCLE SADDLE. No. 435.385. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

WVM/wana@ @hum/tez (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. s. W. BABBITT.

BICYCLE SADDLE. No. 435,385. Patented Sept. 2. 1890.

me News uns an., mora-mno.. wAsmNwaN, n, n.

N-o'Model.) 3 sheets-sheet 3. S. W. BABBITT.

BIGYGLB SADDLE. l No. 435,385. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

...M/Q? New; Wazaa Thi News persas co., mom-uma., wsnmnou, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SETI-I WILLIAM BABBITT, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT.

BICYCLE-SADDLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,385, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed December 26, 1889.' Serial No. 335,013. (No model.)

, this specification.

My invention .relates to improvements in saddles designed especially for saddles for bicycles; but my invention may be usefully applied to other forms of saddles.

In long-distance riding perceptible injury to the parts contained in the perinaeum and scrotum often occurs; and the object of my invention is to produce a saddle by the use of which such objection'may be overcome.

To this end my invention consists in abifurcated saddle-seat having the front ends thereof connected to and re-enforced by a bifurcated spring-suppora'whereby the seat, while being sufficiently elastic, will still preserve a continuous opening along its center and front; and my invention further consists in the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification, Figure l is aperspective view of one form of saddle embodying my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively plan and side views of the front bifurcated support shown in Fig. l. Figs. 4 and 5 .show in plan and rear views, respectively, the means for uniting the rear spring to the bar under the rear of the saddle. Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are views of modifications liereinafter referred to.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

The saddle-seat A is bifurcated or cut away, as shown in Fig. 1, from a point somewhat in the rear of the center and the resulting opening a is continuous to the front or point of the seat; but it is obvious that, if desired, the opening might extend farther back or to the eXtreme rear. The forward portions of the seat are connected to the arms b of the bifurv which is supported in any suitable manner, according to the particular kind of bicycle or saddle springs preferred. l

In Fig. l the supporting-plate X, the clamp Y, and the coiled springs Z and Z are of a form well known in Safety bicycles; but my improved seat and front support can be applied to other forms of saddles. The bifurcated front support B, while preferably made of metal having a sufficient amount of elasticity to render the seat comfortable and also sufficiently strong or rigid to prevent the two arms b from being unduly contracted toward each other by the Weight of the rider, may be made of other material, if possessing the two desired characteristics. The essential feature is that the seat shall be re-enforced sufficiently along the sides of the opening to prevent said opening from being materially contracted by the weight of the rider, and also that said opening shall be continuous, so that there shall be nothing to cause injury to the perinzeum, the raphe, or the scrotum. By having the connecting or cross bar Z9 considerably below the level of the front portion of the seat, as shown, there will be no risk of injury to the rider should he be sitting on or be thrown forward to the extreme front of the saddle.

The plate or bar C, which supports the rear of the seat, is provided with two recesses c c, which converge toward each other. Into these recesses the spring Z is fitted by forcing the two portions of the spring into the recesses some distance from the joined ends of the said portions, and then sliding them along until the connecting portion e' of the spring rests closely inside of the bar or plate C, as shown in Fig. 4.

The front bifurcated support B may be connected or integral with the rear support, thus forming a continuous re-enforce B around the opening, as shown in Fig. 6. In this form the seat is preferably stitched at intervals to the re-enforcing wire.

In Fig. 7 the material of the seat is shown as continuous, this being sometilnes a desirable construction.

The cross-bar b of the front support B is connected by any suitable means to the portion of the saddle or the frame of the machine which it is desired shall hold it. As shown IOO in Fig. 1, a double-hooked clip b2 connects the said cross-bar b with the spring Z.

As shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the crossbar b is connected in a horizontally yielding or rocking manner to the supporting parts of the saddle.

The spring D, of a form well known in bicycles, carries at its upper end an eye d, through which extends the sleeve d', and through the sleeve passes the cross-bar b', having nuts d2 to secure it against longitudinal movement. Between the rear nut d2 and the end of the sleeve is clamped one end of a brace D', which extends back to engage the rear plate or bar C.

Having now described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A bifurcated saddle-seat having the front ends thereof connected toabifurcated springsupport, said support having its arms extending rearwardly to re-enforce the sides of the seat-opening, substantially as described.

2. In a saddle, the combination of the seat having continuous opening a, with the bifurcated support B, having its ends b extending rearwardly and connected to the front ends of the seat and having its cross-bar b below the level of the seat, and means for supporting therear of the seat and the said support B, substantially as described.

3. In a saddle, the combination, with the rear seat-support C, having recesses c c, of

the spring Z, fitted to said recesses, substantially as described.

4. In abicycle-saddle, a bifurcated support A 

